Support and drape for casket lowering devices



F. M. COMPTON SUPPORT AND DRAPE FOR CASKET LOWERING DEVICES June 18, 1940.

Filed May 21, 1938 ATTORN Patented June 18 1940 SUPPORT AND DRAPE- FOR CASKET LOWERJNG DEVICES Y Francis M. Compton,

Compton, executrix of ton, deceased 3 Application May 21, casual No.20.9,159

--" iThis invention relates to cemetery equipment uandhas particular reference to catafalques such .--as those having spaced corner supports whereon j-"are positioned lowering devices known as casket 1:5"placers. a

,The principal object. of the invention is to uprovide supporting posts for casket lowering deuvices of such; nature that the lowering heads nmay. beattachedxand detachedtherefrom with 1 minimumtime and effortiand further, to eliminate the objectionable yielding action common to.-most1types.,of lsupportswhen pressure is applied against the railing of the lowering device. @This sometimes creates an embarrassing Sitllv 15 ation in ceremonies which is avoided by the use of p the present invention.

Another object of the invention resides in the provisionof a continuous curtain or drape for a catafalque whereby curtain edges such as at the g corners, present an even and uniform, and consequently a more pleasing appearance to the eye.

Anotherlobject of the invention is in the provi: sion of a curtain for catafalqueswhich is of. such construction as to accommodate the variations in distances between the corner posts of placing devices.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of attachments whereby the heading of the curtain is inclined toward the horizontal 30 members of the placing device.

A still further object of the invention lies in the provision of coupling means between the placing device and the upright supporting. corner posts.

Broadly, the invention seeks to provide a supporting post and a curtain for catafalques which latter presents a pleasing appearance by elimimating the curtain edges at the corners and by inclining the heading of the curtain toward the 40 casket placing device;

With the foregoing objects as paramount, other and lesser objects will become manifest as the description proceeds taken in connection with the appended drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the catafalque illustrating the continuous curtain or drape in place thereon.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of the curtain particularly illustrating the at- 50 tachment of the elastic cord employed at the corner posts.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view. il-

lustrating the attachment of the curtain heading to a horizontal shaft of the casket placing 55 device. a p p i i 2 Claims. (01; 27--26) Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the corner posts illustrating the relative positions of clamps at the head thereof for engaging the casket" placing device, and

Flgure5 is a fragmentary sectional view il- "5 lustrating the adjustment set screws for operating one of theclamps illustrated in Figure 4.

Primarily the invention is comprised of a steel post such as illustrated in Figure 4, four of which are .employed,l one being stationed at l0 each corner of thecasket lowering device, the latter beingof conventional construction. These posts each have flanges at their tops and bases.

' The invention is further comprised of a continuous wall curtain I,.as illustrated in Figures l and 2, which is designed for vertical arrangement about the supports orposts 2 which are placed at the four cornersof an open grave (not shown) for supporting a casketplacing device 3. It is preferred that the curtain I be of velour,

although any desired fabric may be used.

The conventional type placing devices are constructed with spherical corners 4, each being joined by horizontal members 5 forming an apparatus which is rectangular in shape. The spherical corners 4 are designed for resting upon the surfaces a of the posts 2 and are held in place by means inwardly projecting clamps 6, one of which is adjustable for the purpose of engaging and disengaging the said spherical member 4. This adjustability is accomplished by the provision ofa longitudinal slot 1 within the lower portion of the clamp 6, as illustrated in Figure 5, and is retained in place by a set screw passing therethrough and threadedly engaging the under side of the surface a of the post 2.

It is apparent that the foregoing arrangement will prevent the entire structure from leaning when pressure is accidentally applied on one side or end and which is a source of annoyance to morticians when a ceremony is in progress. Moreover, by securing the spherical heads 4 to the supporting posts in the manner described, not only is a more rigid structure provided but the work of dismantling is made as easy as that of theusual structure which consists in simply placing the heads on-the posts without means of securement. i V l The curtain l is secured to the sphericalmemher 4 at its base and immediately above the supporting posts 2 by the tension of a continuous elastic cable 8 which isenclosed within a casing- 9 and is attached to the curtain I by stitching III.

In the preferred form of construction the curtain I is gathered, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, and stitched to the casing 9, thus causing the gathers resulting from the contraction of the elastic 8 to be more uniform in their arrangement. By reason of this construction, that is, the gathering of the continuous curtain and the action of the elastic, the curtain can be adapted to placing devices of varied dimensions.

At determined intervals, the casing 9 is attached in depending arcs H, as illustrated in Figure 2, to accommodate the contourof the spheres 4 at the corners of the placing device 3.

When the elastic cord is stretched in the manner previously described there will be a tendency of the heading l2 above the are H to be higher than at other points since the distance between the cord 8 and the outer edge 6 of the heading is greater than the distance between the cord 8 and the outer edge of the heading disposed between the corners; but since the sphere 4 causes the heading to be turned outwardly at the cornera'the uniform height of the edge b is the same as that of the other edges 0.

The heading'c between thespheres 4 is made uniform in appearance and is inclined inwardly toward the horizontal members of the placing device 3 by attachment of hooks l3 therebetween, as illustrated particularly in Figure 3. .The hooks l3 are attached to the under side of the heading l2 and'the hooks M of which engage the horizontal member 5 thus insuring a uniform height of the heading l2' and inclining the same in ward1y.-

Manifestly, thestructure shown and described is capable of considerable changes and modifications by those skilled in the art and such changes and modifications which may be resorted to from time to time which may be considered within the spirit andintent of the invention may also be considered as falling within the scope of the appended claims,

What is claimed is:

1. For association with a casket placing and lowering device wherein the lowering device includes a plurality of rotatable shafts, a drape comprising a curtain vertically arranged therearound, a casing horizontally attached to said curtain and arcuated at spaced intervals on said curtain, a continuous elastic cable within said casing and hook means attachingthe heading of the said curtain 'to the said casket and lowering device.

2. For association with a casket placing and lowering device wherein the lowering device includes a plurality. of rotatable shafts, .a drape comprising a curtain vertically arranged therearound, a casing horizontally attached to the said curtain and arcuately disposed at the corners of said curtain, a continuous elastic cable within the said casing, means attaching the heading of the I said curtain to the rotatable shafts of said device whereby to cause the upper portion of said drape to lie against a casket of said lowering device,

FRANCIS COMP-TON. 

